Stent for use in a stent graft

Abstract

A stent-graft for insertion into a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, is utilized in order to repair such lumen. The stent-graft includes a substantially cylindrical hollow expandable stent comprising a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent has a distal end and a proximal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one strut of the stent has first and second apertures extending therethrough from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The stent-graft also includes a graft member covering a predetermined portion of least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the stent. In addition, the stent-graft further includes a staple for attaching the graft member to the stent. The staple has a crown and two legs extending therefrom. At least one of the legs of the staple extends through the graft material and through the first aperture. Both of the legs are bent inwardly towards said crown such that they evert back and extend through the second aperture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to percutaneously delivered stent-grafts for repairing abdominal aortic aneurysms.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a sac caused by an abnormal dilation of the wall of the aorta, a major artery of the body, as it passes through the abdomen. The abdomen is that portion of the body which lies between the thorax and the pelvis. It contains a cavity, known as the abdominal cavity, separated by the diaphragm from the thoracic cavity and lined with a membrane, the peritoneum. The aorta is the main trunk, or artery, from which the systemic arterial system proceeds. It arises from the left ventricle of the heart, passes upward, bends over and passes down through the thorax and through the abdomen to about the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra, where it divides into the two common iliac arteries.[0003]The aneurysm often arises in the infrarenal portion of the diseased aorta, for example, below the kidn...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a hollow cylindrical stent that can be used to treat blockages in human blood vessels. The stent is made up of interconnected struts, with the ends having greater strength than the middle section. It also includes rings that connect the struts. This design helps to ensure the stent is durable and can withstand the pressure of blood flow.

Problems solved by technology

When left untreated, the aneurysm will eventually cause rupture of the sac with ensuing fatal hemorrhaging in a very short time.

Surgery involving the abdominal wall, however, is a major undertaking with associated high risks.

There is considerable mortality and morbidity associated with this magnitude of surgical intervention, which in essence involves replacing the diseased and aneurysmal segment of blood vessel with a prosthetic device which typically is a synthetic tube, or graft, usually fabricated of either DACRON®, TEFLON®, GORTEX®, or other suitable material.

Thus, if the patient is not receiving routine examinations, it is possible that the aneurysm will progress to the rupture stage.

Disadvantages associated with the conventional, prior art surgery, in addition to the high mortality rate, are: the extended recovery period associated with the large surgical exposure in such open procedures; difficulties in suturing the graft, or tube, to the aorta; the loss of the existing thrombosis to support and reinforce the graft; the unsuitability of the surgery for many patients having abdominal aortic aneurysms; and the problems associated with performing the surgery on an emergency basis after the aneurysm has ruptured.

Since the graft must be secured, or sutured, to the remaining portion of the aorta, it is often difficult to perform the suturing step because of thrombosis present on the remaining portion of the aorta, and that remaining portion of the aorta wall may be friable, or easily crumbled.

Since the thrombosis is totally removed in the prior art surgery, the new graft does not have the benefit of the previously existing thrombosis therein, which could be utilized to support and reinforce the graft, were the graft to be able to be inserted within the existing thrombosis.

Since many patients having abdominal aortic aneurysms have other chronic illnesses, such as heart, lung, liver, and / or kidney disease, coupled with the fact that many of these patients are older, these patients are not ideal candidates for such surgery, which is considered major surgery.

Such patients have difficulties in surviving the operation.

Lastly, once the aneurysm has ruptured, it is difficult to perform a conventional surgery on an expedited basis because of the extent of the surgery.

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